Highway marker



Sept. 21, o. w. NYSYTU EN HIGHWAY MARKER Filed Feb. 10, 1936 Invgnlor flsaarWfl j/jzwzz,

9 By W v M A llomeyS Patented Sept. 21, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

The present invention relates to newand useful improvements in markers for highways, roads and streets and has for its primary object to-provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a novel construction and arrangement whereby the marker may readily be brilliantly illuminated when desired, as during hours of darkness and periods of poor visibility.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide what may be referred to as a continuous illuminated highway marker embodying various colors for indicating to the operators of vehicles difierent: driving conditions, such as comparatively safe straightaways, approaches to 16 danger zones, such as sha p curves and rail crossings, the danger zones themselves, etc.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a marker of the character described which will partially illuminate the high- 20 way in which it is installed thereby permitting the safe use of headlights of lower candle power on vehicles traveling thereover.

.Other objects of the invention are to provide an illuminated highway'marker which will be 25 comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly eflicient and reliable in use and which may be manufactured and installed at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become ap- 30 parent from a study of. the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:-

35 Figure 1 is a top plan view of a section of highway with an illuminated marker in accordance with the present invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in top plan, showing the invention.

4 Figure 3 is a.view in vertical transverse section, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2,, the transparent bar being shown, partially in end elevation and partially in cross section.

Figure 4 is a similar view of a modified form. of

45 marker. I

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a transparent bar I of substantially truncated triangular 5o cross section which is adapted to be fixed in a substantially V-shaped groove 2 which has been previously formed in the highway 3. The bar I and the groove 2 may be 'of any desirableshape,

including rectangular shape, as well as V-shaped, 55 or the said groove may be of a different shape pose.

than that of the said bar, but permitting by, proper arrangement, a suitable fitting of the said bar in the said groove. The highway 3 is preferably, but not necessarily, of concrete, asphalt, or other hard material. The bars I may be trans- 5 lucent instead of transparent and said bars may be of any suitable length. The longitudinal marginal portions of the upper faces of the bars I are beveled, as at 4, to define, in conjunction with p the walls of the groove 2, channels for the recep- 10 tion of a suitable securing and sealing medium 5. It will be observed that the construction and ar- Irangement is such that the upper face of the marker is flush with the upper surface of the highway 3. In the ends of the translucent or transparent bars I notches or recesses 6 may be provided to facilitate handling.

The bases of the bars I are longitudinally channeled, as at 1, and fixed in these channels in any suitable manner, as by means of bracket I are Neon or similar gas tubes 8 for the purp se of illumination. The reference numeral 9 designates a conductor in'the lower portion of the groove 2 for the illuminating tubes 8 Electric current for the illuminating-tubes 8 may be had from any suitable source and said electrical current andlor tubes may be controlled in any suit-' able manner.

The illuminated marker may be installed as a center line, as shown in Figure 1, to define traffic lanes, to indicate the edges of the highway, or

in any other manner and for any other pur- Further, the transparent or translucent bars I and/or said tubing or gas therein may, as hereinbefore mentioned, be colored to indicate clearly to the operators of vehicles different driving conditions on' thehighway. For example, on safe portions of the highway, the bars I and/or said tubing or gas therein may be white, on approaches to curves, crossings, etc., the bars and/ 40 or said tubing or gas therein 'may be amber, and on the dangerous portions themselves said bars I and/or said tubing or gas therein may be red. Of course, difierent colors or combinations thereof may be used. In addition to' providing an illuminated marker, the invention should assist in illuminating the highway. Ifdesired, the groove '2 in the highway 3 may be provided with a suitable lining, sand lining being polished to function as a reflector.

It is believed that the many advantages of an illuminated highway marker constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although a preferred embodiment is as illustrated and described, it is to be struction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a highway having a substantially V-shaped groove therein, a transparent'bar of substantially truncated triangular cross section fixed in the groove, said bar having a longitudinal channel in the base portion thereof, and a tubular electric lighting element mounted in the channel.

2. An illuminated highway marker comprising, in combination with ahighway having a substantially v-shaped groove therein, a transparent bar of substantially truncated triangular cross section fixed in the groove, and a tubular electric lighting element mounted on the base portion of the bar and spaced from the walls of the groove.

3. An illuminated highway marker comprising, in combination with a highway having a substantially V-shaped groove therein, an elongated transparent bar of substantially truncated triangular cross section fixed in the groove, said bar having a longitudinal channel in its base, and

a tubular electric lighting element fixed in the second-named channel and spaced fromthe walls of the groove.

osoAR w. NYSTUEN. 

